Christmas \’95 I received the most ironic of gifts — Rabbi Morris N. Kertzer\’s \”What Is a Jew?\” The book was given to me by a friend, who originally bought it as a gag gift for her boyfriend. He had Jews in his family somewhere but apparently wasn\’t too proud of his Hebrew roots. He rejected the book and it became mine.

\”What Is a Jew?\” spoke to me. This characteristically Jewish way of questioning stood out in weekly Sunday school at church, where a large leap of faith was required. I don\’t remember exactly what my Sunday school teachers said to me, but phrases like \”Don\’t question,\” \”That\’s the way it is\” and \”Jesus died for our sins\” were the answers I remember receiving to my most deepest questions on faith.